Unlocking Growth in Emerging Markets and Developed Countries: Digital Integration and Fiscal Innovation

October 7, 2025 • 12:00 – 2:00 pm EDT

Brought to you by

Economics Program and Scholl Chair in International Business

As emerging markets strive to accelerate growth, they confront two persistent challenges: barriers to cross-border commerce that constrain economic integration and mounting fiscal pressures that crowd out investment in productivity-enhancing public goods. This two-part CSIS event convenes leading policymakers, practitioners, and scholars to examine how smart reforms can unlock more sustainable and inclusive growth. The first session explores how innovations in digital payment systems can reduce transaction costs and expand opportunities for trade and finance. The second highlights key findings from the IMF’s Fiscal Monitor and considers strategies to strengthen fiscal resilience and improve the allocation of scarce public resources. 

Event Agenda

Panel 1: Enhancing Cross-Border Digital Payment Policies to Support Economic Integration

12:00 pm

The session will open with a presentation by Dr. Kati Suominen, Founder and CEO of Nextrade Group, on her new study examining the regulatory burdens facing cross-border payments. Drawing on firm-level survey data and a new index of payments-related regulations in 30 emerging markets, the research highlights how restrictive policies can constrain trade and economic growth. 

 

A panel discussion moderated by Dr. Philip Luck, Director of the CSIS Economics Program, will follow, featuring: 

  • Dr. Kati Suominen, Founder and CEO, Nextrade Group
  • Dr. Holti Banka, Senior Financial Sector Specialist, World Bank
  • Romina Bandura, Senior Fellow, CSIS Project on Prosperity and Development
  • Amira Karim, Head of Public Policy (Payments and Financial Services), Amazon 

Panel 2: Rollout of the IMF Fiscal Monitor: Designing Effective Approaches to Government Resource Allocation

1:00 pm

At a moment of slowing global growth and rising public debt, the IMF’s Fiscal Monitor charts how governments can boost growth by improving spending efficiency and reallocating resources more strategically. Era Dabla-Norris, Deputy Director of the IMF Fiscal Affairs Department, will present the report’s key findings.

 

The presentation will be followed by a high-level panel moderated by Dr. Philip Luck with: 

  • Ambassador Pjer Šimunović, Republic of Croatia
  • Arthur Asiimwe, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Rwanda
  • Era Dabla-Norris, Deputy Director, IMF Fiscal Affairs Department
  • Shantayanan Devarajan, Professor of International Development, Georgetown University 

Location: CSIS | 1616 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 
Time: 12:00–2:00 pm  

We hope you will join us for this timely discussion on how digital innovation and fiscal reforms can strengthen resilience, integration, and sustainable growth in emerging economies. Please register using the link below.

This event is made possible through general support to CSIS.

Tags

Global Economic Governance, and International Development

Hosted By

Contact Information

Ambassador Pjer Šimunović

Ambassador Pjer Šimunović

Republic of Croatia
Phil Luck

Philip Luck

Director, Economics Program and Scholl Chair in International Business
Kati Suominen

Kati Suominen

Adjunct Fellow (Non-resident), Economics Program and Scholl Chair for International Business
Romina Bandura

Romina Bandura

Senior Fellow, Project on Prosperity and Development
5Asiimwe

Arthur Asiimwe

Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Rwanda
5Banka

Holti Banka

Senior Financial Sector Specialist, World Bank
5Karim

Amira Karim

Head of Public Policy (Payments and Financial Services), Amazon
5Dabla-Norris

Era Dabla-Norris

Deputy Director of the IMF Fiscal Affairs Department
5Devarajan

Shantayanan Devarajan

Professor of International Development, Georgetown University

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